Single piece connector for flexible hosing



Oct. 29, 1968 A, I, A PLETON 3,408,092

SINGLE PIECE CONNECTOR FOR FLEXIBLE HOSING Filed April 13, 1967 flzvenfir 32 11641 I 041571 United States Patent 3,408,092 SINGLE PIECE CONNECTOR FOR FLEXIBLE HOSING Arthur I. Appleton, Northbrook, Ill. Appleton Electric 'C0., 1701 W. Wellington, Chicago, Ill. 60657) Filed Apr. 13, 1967, Ser. No. 630,676 H 2 Claims. (Cl. 285-39) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A single piece tubular connector for connecting. one end of a length of flexible hose to other apparatus and featuring a centrally flanged tubular body separating a preferably externally threaded hose end from another end which is also threaded but preferably with oppositelyhanded threads.

Background of the invention This invention relates specifically to a single piece connector for use exclusively with flexible hosing of principally or entirely non-metallic material such as is already in wide use in fluid and pressure transmission and which is gaining in popularity for carrying electrical wires in electrical installations.

While at least one known single piece connector fairly closely resembles the present invention, the present dis closure represents an improvement thereover which, as will be see, facilitates its installation and removal to thereby make the connector a more desirable piece with which to work.

This known single piece connector includes a tubular end portion which is interferingly inserted into the end of a'length of flexible hose. To assist in effecting a seal therebetween, the inserted portion carries around its periphery a plurality of individual and axially spaced apart ridges. These ridges are interferingly sized soas to bitingly engage the inner surface of the flexible hose and thereby resist its removal. Although the ridges are also designed to facilitate insertion of this end of the connector into the hose, the stiffness of modern plastic hosing in conjunction with the interfering fit makes full insertion of the hose end a diflicult if not impossible task. And, in removing the hose from the connector, these frequently sharp ridges occasionally tear or gouge the inner surface of the hose which renders the injured end nonreusable where some semblance of a seal is required. In extreme cases the connector can only be removed by cutting the hose.

This known form of connector also possesses some undesirable aspects in conjunction with its installation. For example, the connector is usually first rigidly connected into some other apparatus, such as an electrical box, and then the flexible hose is forceably pushed over the outwardly projecting and ridged hose end. Particularly in the use of relatively short lengths of stiff hose material, it may be quite difficult to make the appropriate bends in the hose and simultaneously push it onto the connector. This problem is even more acute when the installer is working in close quarters.

Summary of the invention In solving the above described problems of known constructions, the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a tubular hose end portion which carries a thread thereon having a major diameter designed for interfering relationship with the inner surface of the hose. The thread design is preferably that of a buttress thread arranged to resist removal of the connector from the hose when pulled axially outwardly, however, insertion and removal may be readily achieved without injury to the hose merely by screwing the connector into or out 3,408,092 Patented o r. 29, 1968 of the end of the hose. Thus, considerable interference between the thread and the hose can be designed into the connector, yet removal does not cause gouging or tearing of the hose material.

Since the other end of this type of connector frequently would be screwed into an internally threaded hole in a standard housing or electrical box, it preferably carries an external right-handed thread while the hose inserted portion carries a left-handed thread. Thus, the installer need only give the connector about one turn to get it started into the electrical housing, push, the end of the hose over the other end of the connector, and then draw up both sides simultaneously by rotating the connector to thereby form the sealed connection. V i

While the invention is shown in the drawings toassist in an understanding of one preferred form of the invention, this showing is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment shown or to defeat that purpose of a patent which is to protectively cover the inventive concepts contained therein. The appended claims are the chief aid toward this purpose as it is these that point out the scope of the invention.

Description of the drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connection formed by a connector incorporating the principles of a preferred form of the invention, this view including a short segment of flexible hose connected thereto and also a fragment of an electrical box;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the connector;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the connector in cross-section; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an installation incorporating the connector and as shown generally in FIG. 1.

Description of the preferred embodiment Referring now to the drawings, the single-piece connector is shown generally at 10 and is used to connect a length of flexible hose 11 to some other piece of equipment such as to the side wall 12 of an electrical box. Hose 11 includes a connector end 15, an inner surface 16, and an outer surface 17. The other apparatus to which the connector is connected may be of any general form, but is here shown as a fragment of a thickwall electrical housing having an internally threaded hole 18 therethrough.

Connector 10 is of generally tubular and cylindrical shape and includes tightening or grasping means in the form of a centrally located flange 20 having an octagonally-shaped or nut-shaped outer periphery, a smaller diameter hose end portion 21 extending outwardly and axially from one side 22 of flange 20, and connecting means 25 extending outwardly from the other side 23 of flange 20 and axially thereof.

Side 22 of flange 20 is undercut as at 26, this undercut being defined in part by a back wall 27 and an inwardly tapering side wall 28. As will be brought out in greater detail later, undercut 26 tapers to crimping proportions to assist in forming a seal between the connector 10 and flexible hose 11.

Hose end portion 21 includes an outermost thin Wall end 30 having an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of flexible hose 11. Between outermost end 30 and flange undercut 26, hose end portion 21 carries an external buttress thread 31. Thread 31 is preferably left-handed, for reasons to be discussed in greater detail later, and is oriented to facilitate its insertion into the hose as Well as to prevent the easy removal thereof by pulling axially outwardly.

The connecting means or housing end portion 25 is preferably externally threaded as at 32 to permit it to be screwed into the internally threaded hole inthe housing 12. These threads are preferably right-handed so as to fit standardly sized and internally threaded holes. In some applications, of course, connector may be used with a thin-wall housing containing an unthreaded hole. In this case, an ordinary right-handed nut can be drawn up on portion 32 from the other side of the housing wall to secure it.

In forming a connection with the connector 10, the installer will normally first screw end 25 partially into the housing wall 12 to a sufficient depth to align and hold it therein. This would normally require engagement of only one or two threads, and if desirable, the end threads can be colored differently from the rest or marked with a dab of coloring material as at 35 to put the installer on notice that the thread is engaged the proper amount. Hose end 15 is then pushed over outermost end 30 of the hose end portion 21 and over the first one or two threads ofbuttress thread 31. Again, this end might carry a mark as at 36 to show the installer that the hose is pushed over the end of the buttress thread 31 to 'the proper degree. With the assistance of a wrench engaged over nut-shaped flange 20, the installer can then screw end portion 25 into the housing 12. Simultaneously with the tightening of end 25, and by virtue of the left-handed buttress thread 31, hose end 15 is advanced over hose end portion 21 toward undercut 26. At substantially the same time that the connector is snugly secured to the housing 12, hose end 15 has been driven into back wall 27 of the tapered undercut 26 and has been crimped en route by tapered side wall 28. Thus, hose end 15 is sealed against the connector 10. If desired, a washer-shaped gasket such as shown in dotted lines at 37 could be first slipped over end portion 25 before assembly to ensure a fluid-tight seal between the connector and the housing wall 12.

Removing the connector is even simpler than installing it. By rotating flange in the direction opposite that of tightening, the entire connection screws apart without injuring the inner surface 16 of the hose 11. This is a decided advantage over and should be contrasted with known connectors having hose end portions which must be ripped out of or cut from the hose to effect their removal.

Of course, other applications of the connector might preferably lend themselves to the use of right-handed threads on the hose end portion 21, and still other applications might preferably utilize a different form of connection at end other than the external threads shown at 32. Slight changes in form from that shown in the drawings which are peculiarly suited to a given application should not be construed to detract from the inventive concepts defined below in the claims.

I claim:

a soaa 1. A connector for matingly joining the end of a length of generally plastic-like flexible hose to other apparatus 4 and consisting essentially of a single piece for interposition there'between, comprising: a straight tubular body of generally cylindrical shape, said body having a generally cylindrical first end for connection to the end of said flexible hose and a second end adapted for connection to said other apparatus, co-operating means on both of said ends for etfecting a simultaneous connection of said first end to said hose and said second end to said apparatus, said co-operating means including an external and lefthanded thread on said first end of interfering major diameter with said hose before insertion therein and an oppositely-handed thread formed'with said second end, said left-handed thread having a crest portion extending radially outwardly beyond all other portions of said first end to bite into said hose, said body including a flange having parallel peripheral flats between said first and second ends for facilitating the turning of said body with a tool and effecting the simultaneous connection, said flange having larger outside dimensions than said first end and including annular undercut means therein extending axially thereof and opening outwardly toward said lefthanded thread on said first end for internally receiving the end of the hose as said connector is screwed therein, said undercut defining at least one generally radial sealing surface and converging inwardly in the direction of said second end by means of a generally gradually tapered sidewall to an innermost back wall of interfering dimensions with the thickness of the hose material whereupon tightening of said connector into said hose causes said hose end to be generally radially compressed and crimped to substantial proportions within the undercut by virtue of the inwardly diminishing proportions of said undercut as caused by said tapered sidewall to thereby form an effective seal between said hose end and said radial sealing surface.

2 The connector as set forth in claim 1, including indicia means on said first end and on said second end for indicating the proper initial thread engagement of said first end in said hose and said second end with said other apparatus so that a given number of revolutions of said connector thereafter effects simultaneously a seal with said hose at said first end and a fully drawn up condition with said apparatus at said second end.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 509,458 11/1893 Still 285---39 2,268,020 12/1941 Dahlstrom 285-174 2,595,900 5/1952 Soos 285174 2,696,394 7/1954 Kaiser 285-39 2,857,176 10/1958 McTaggart et a1 285-158 2,978,263 4/1961 Walsh et a1 285-93 CARL W. TOMLIN, Primary Examiner.

W. L. SHEDD, Assistant Examiner. 

